Seniors should be free to work without penalty and treated fairly by a program they paid into all of their lives. In summary, repealing the earnings penalty is based on the fundamental principles of fairness and freedom. This is clearly a win-win for everyone, which is why the bill now enjoys widespread bipartisan support. In addition, repealing the earnings penalty now will unleash the productivity of one of the most experienced and talented workforces in this country at a time when our growing economy needs it. The point is, Americans are living longer now and older Americans can work, they want to work, and they should not be punished by an outdated law if they choose to work. More seniors are choosing to work past their retirement for many reasons: for their own financial needs, because Social Security benefits for most are not adequate by themselves to support retirement to help their families or their grandchildren through school and for their own personal fulfillment. The Social Security earnings penalty punishes seniors who choose to keep working. After all these years, it is heartening that this effort is finally bipartisan and the President will sign this bill. Now it is right to repeal the earnings penalty for working seniors. It was right to stop the raid on the Social Security trust fund and protect every dime of Social Security from being spent on other programs, and we did that. It was right to expand educational opportunities for school children and give more flexibility to parents, teachers and local school boards, and we did that. It was right to reform the IRS, and we did that. It was right to fix the broken welfare system so that Americans can discover the freedom of work, independence and the power of responsibility, and we did that. It was right to cut taxes for families and to promote higher education and expand health care, and we did that. It was right to strengthen Medicare, and we did that. It was right to balance the budget and to pay down the debt, and we did that. I am proud to be a part of a Congress that fixes what is wrong and does what is right. Today this Congress will once again do the right thing and repeal the earnings penalty for those hard-working and deserving Americans. Now, why in the world would we want to discourage any American, whether they are 17 or 67, from working? It increases their effective tax rate to the highest percentage of a lifetime for many of them, and that is wrong. The earnings penalty actually cuts Social Security benefits for many working seniors over the age of 65, and it discourages them from working. The Social Security earnings penalty, like the marriage tax penalty, like the death tax, like the capital gains tax, like the tax on savings, like the alternative minimum tax and so many other taxes, is simply unfair and wrong. Shaw), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security and the Speaker for their tireless efforts on this bill. Sam Johnson) the gentleman from Florida (Mr. I also thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. The reason then to repeal the earnings penalty is the same as it is today: the earnings penalty is simply wrong. I launched this effort as one of the first bills that I introduced after being sworn in in 1971. It is the culmination of my personal 29-year effort to repeal the earnings penalty. Speaker, today is an exciting day for me personally, and it is a great day for the hundreds of thousands of working seniors across this country. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas? Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Archer) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Congressional Record- House Debate - March 1, 2000
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